Accident on Hwy 17 Thursday Injures Two Drivers

Traffic was stopped on Highway 17 in Lavonia Thursday morning as Lavonia Police and Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol investigated a crash involving a head-on collision.

According to Trooper Sgt. Ray Dean with the GSP Post 52 it happened just before 7a on Highway 17 near Lankford Road.

“A preliminary crash investigation revealed a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on GA 17 and a white 2016 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound on GA 17. The driver of the Elantra failed to maintain his lane and struck the Silverado head-on in the southbound lane of GA 17,” he said.

After impact, the Elantra came to a final uncontrolled rest, facing east, in the northbound lane of GA 17 and the Silverado came to a final uncontrolled, facing west, off the west shoulder of GA 17.

The driver of the Elantra, who is from Anderson, SC suffered serious injuries and was transported by Franklin County EMS to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia.

The driver of the Silverado is a US Forest Service employee. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by Franklin County EMS to AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson, South Carolina.

All lanes were shut down for over an hour while emergency crews assisted and cleared the scene.

Highway 17 was re-opened to traffic just after 8a.

No impairment was suspected in the driver of the Elantra and he was charged with Failure to Maintain Lane.